Venezuela will upgrade its fleet of Su-30Mk2 fighter aircraft

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World Defense & Security News - Venezuela
 
 
Venezuela will upgrade its fleet of Su-30Mk2 fighter aircraft
 
Venezuela will allocate $480 million to upgrade its Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets, the country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said. Last month, Maduro announced that Venezuela would purchase at least 12 Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, said russian media on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.
     
Venezuela will upgrade its fleet of Su 30Mk2 fighter aircraft 640 001Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela's Su-30Mk2 multirole fighter aircraft
     
"The president [Nicolas Maduro] just authorized [the payment] of $480 million so that the service life of our Sukhoi planes… so they could continue to fulfill or give protection to the Venezuelan airspace," the minister said on Thursday.


Russia’s military cooperation with Latin American nations, including Venezuela, started to take off in 2014 with deals on high-tech arms sales and the construction of naval facilities.

Venezuela is expected to become the second largest importer of Russian weapons and military equipment between 2012 and 2015, with purchasing contracts worth $3.2 billion, according to the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade.

The 12 Sukhoi Su-30Mk2 currently in service in the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela are flown by the No. 11 Fighter Group, based in Palo Negro.

The Su-30MK2 multi-role fighter aircraft is an improved version of the Su-30MKK, a member of the Su-30 aircraft family. Developed by Sukhoi in 2002 and is manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO), the aircraft are operational with Vietnam, Indonesia, Uganda, Venezuela and China.

The Su-30MK2 combat aircraft offers superior manoeuvrability and can be deployed to engage manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), medium- and short-range guided missiles, high-precision munitions, and other airborne weapons.